Controllably changeable-expression face-simulating device



July 13, 1965 A. ROSENFELD 3,193,

CONTROLLABLY GHANGEABLE-EXPRESSION FACE-SIMULATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 12, 1963 FIG, 3 4/. L2 4:

INVENTOR. ALEXANDER ROSENFELD United States Patent 3,193,969 (IQNTRULLABLY CHANGEABLE-EXPRESSKQN FACE-IMULATHNG DEVIQE Alexander Rosenfeld, 3345 Blair Drive,

Los Angeies, Calif. Filed Aug, 12, 1963, Ser. No. 301,262 3 Claims. (Ci. 46-135) Generally speaking, the present invention relates to a face-simulating device which may comprise a toy or a pictorial device and which, in certain instances, may be employed for attracting public attention as for example in connection with an advertising display or the like. More particularly, the invention pertains to a face-simulating device of the general character referred to above but which is of a controilably changeable-expression type adapted to be controllably operated (usually manually) in a manner such as to effectively change the appearance of a face-simulating device in a manner which changes the effective expression thereof in a desired way. The face-simulating device may simulate a human face, an animal face, or the face of any living creature or even an imaginary creature such as some artistic conception of the possible appearance of inhabitants of other planets or worlds or the like. In other words, the face-simulating device may assume a wide variety of different facesimulating constructions and appearances and the inven tion is intended to broadly include and comprehend such a wide scope of variation thereof.

With the above points in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel controllably changeable-expression face-simulating device of the character referred to hereinabove, and which is of extremely simple, inexpensive, foolproof, lightweight, easy-to-operate construction such as to be conducive to widespread use thereof.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which follows hereinafter (which is to be considered as exemplary of, but not specifically limiting the invention) and said objects will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study of the detailed description which follows hereinafter.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, two exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the hereinbelow-described figures of the accompanying single drawing sheet and are described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one exemplary embodiment of the invention showing the face-simulating device in one relationship of the movable elements thereof which effectively produces a corresponding effective facial expression.

FIG. 2 is a reduced-size perspective view of the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 as seen from a position behind and at one side thereof.

FIG. 3 is a larger scale rear View taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2 and shows in rear elevation the operating means and coupling means for effectively moving the frontally positioned facial elementsimulating members (best shown in FIG. 1) and shows, in section, the side Walls of the rear cover means which normally define a housing chamber completely receiving and enclosing said operating means and coupling means.

FIG. 4 is a reduced size front elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the facial element-simulating members of the device and the manually graspable operating member of the operating means in a different position from the showing of FIGS. 1 and 3, thus producing an effectively changed facial expression and appearance from the first facial expression clearly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is another reduced size front elevational view Patented July i3, 1965 ice similar to FIGS. 1 and 4 but showing the facial elementsirnulating members and the frontally positioned manually graspable operating member of the operating means in different relationships from the first relationship producing the first facial expression as shown in FIG. 1 and from the second relationship producing the second changed expression as shown in FIG. 4; the relationship of said elements in FIG. 5 producing a third and different effective facial expression.

FIG. 6 is a front e-levational View generally similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating a slight modification of the invention wherein a different face is simulated by the device and wherein certain of the facial element-simulating members are very slightly modified from the first form thereof illustrated in the first form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-5.

Generally speaking, the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 15 comprises a controllably changeable-expression face-simulating device, indicated generally at 11, which is shown, in said exemplary first form, as comprising a flat thin-sheet frontally positioned face-simulating member 12 (which actually comprises and is to be construed as comprising, but not being limited to, a face-head-and-neck-simulating member 12 throughout this application) having an outline shape defined by the edge thereof which simulates the corresponding outline of a face (also, a head and neck in the example illustrated) which is simulated thereby and which is also provided with a front display surface 13 hearing a visually differentiated and defined pictorial representation of a human face which is simulated by the entire face-simulating member 12-; said pictorial representation of said human face on said front display surface being generally designated by the reference numeral 14 in FIG. 1.

It should be noted that said front display surface 13 and said pictorial representation of a human face, as indicated at 14 in FIG. 1, may be carried by the front surface of the face-simulating member 12 in any suitable manner, such as by offset printing same thereon, silkscreen printing same thereon, or by printing same on a thin sheet of paper or similar material which is then adhesively or otherwise suitably afiixed to a somewhat stiffer backing sheet member whereby they together comprise a relatively rigid face-simulating member such as is indicated generally at 12. However, the invention is not specifically so limited and various other functionally equivalent means for producing a relatively rigid face-simulating member such as that shown at 12 having a front surface such as that shown at 13 hearing a face-simulating pictorial representaticn such as that indicated at 14 in FIG. 1 may be employed.

Incidentally, in connection with the above, it should be noted that the front display surface 13 of the facesimulating member 12 also usually simulates in appearance associated head and neck portions such as would be expected tobe associated with the human face simulated by the pictorial representation shown at 14 in FIG. 1. v

The exemplary first form of the invention also includes a plurality of facial element-simulating members movably mounted in front-ally visibly observable spaced positions in front of said front display surface 13 of the face-simulating member 12 and at positions corresponding in location to the locations of real corresponding elements of a real human face and capable of being controllably moved in a facial expression-changing manner with respect to said face-simulating member 12.

p In said exemplary first form of the invention, said facial element-simulating members are shown as comprising three pairs of laterally spaced longitudinal members which are normally substantially laterally directed, when in the position shown in FIG. 1, and which simuregion and the mouth or lip regi-on of a human face;

said members including the eyebrow-simulating portions 15, the eyelash and/or eyelid-simulating portions 16 and the mouth and/or'lip simulating portions. 17.

It will be noticed that when said plurality of facial element-simulating members, 15, 16, and 17, are in the first facial expression relationship of the device as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,'elements of the same type are substantially laterally spaced and substantially laterally horizontally directed.

{Each of said facial element-simulating members,

through 17, is provided with a rearwardlydirected pivot pin such as shown at 18, 1 9, and 21, respectively, with each of said pivot pins extending through a corresponding aperture in the face-simulating member 12 from the front display surface 13 to the rear surface 22 thereof Where each'of said pivot pins is'connected to corresponding portions of coupling means indicated generally at V 23 (best shown in FIG. '3). for rotatable operation ber 25 located in a conveniently manually accessible front location adjacent to the bottom of the face-simulating member '12 for manual movement into any one of the three diifer-ent positions shown in FIGS. 1, 4,'and 5, or any positions therebetween. It will be understood that such manual operation of the manually graspable operating member 25 will, of course, produce corrsponding movement of the facial element-simulating members .15 through 17 so as to produce effective changes of facial expression as exemplified by the three different facial expressions shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5.

' In connection with the above, it should be notedthat each of theeyebrow-simulating members 15 has its rear wardly directed pivot pin 18 substantially centrally connected and keyed thereto and extending rearwardly'for similar keyed connection with respect to a linkage member 26 which has its other end pivotally connected, as inidcated at'27, to another linkage'member 28. It should also be noted that each of the eyelashand/or' eyelidsimulat-ing members 1 6 has its pivot pin 19 similarly substantially centrally positioned and keyedthereto and extending rearwardly through the face-simulating momber 12 to the rear thereof where it is keyed with'respect to another linkage member29 which is pivotally connected, as indicated at 31, to the lower end of the previously mentioned linkage member 28 and which is further rotatably connected to anotherlinkage member 32 which extends downwardly and which is pivotally con nected as indicated at-33 to a corresponding one of the two operating members 34. r

It should also be noted that each of the mouth and/or lip-simulating members 17 has .it s pivot' pin 21 posi: tioned adjacent to its inner'end and effectively key cd with respect thereto and extending rcarwardly through a corresponding aperture in-the face -simulating member 12 to a position at the rar'thereof where it is keyed to another'linkage member 35 which has its outer end pIV-j otally connected, as indicated at 33, to the corresponding junction of the corresponding pair of previously mentioned members 32 and 34 of the coupling means 23 and the operating means 24.

The lower ends of the left and right members 34 of the operating means 24 are pivotally connected, as ind-i1 cated' at 3 6, to a transverse member 37, with said pivotal connection pins 36 ext-ending forwardly through a pair of laterally spaced vertical slots 38 to a position in front of the face-simulating member 12 and there being pivotally connected with'respect to said previously inentionedmanually graspable operating member 25;

. 4 v is such that the manually graspable operating member 25 may be grasped and vertically slidably moved in either direction which will correspondingly move the complete operating means 24 and the complete coupling means 23 in a manner such as to bring about a corresponding rotation of the corresponding facial element-simulating members 15 through 17 so as to bring about an effective change of facial expression in the manner exemplified by the showing of three different and non-specifically limiting facial expressions illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5.

One such exemplary .and non-specifically limiting upward movement of said elements is partially shown in phantom in FIG. 3 and illustrates how the upward movement of the manually graspable operating knob 25 will "bring about rotation of each of the linkage members 26,

29, and 35, into the positions shown in phantom in FIG. 3,

i which will correspondingly rotate'the frontally positioned ,actionof friction on the'various moving parts thereof.

However, various other holding means may be employed in lieu thereof, if desired.

The above description of the operation of the operating means 24, the coupling means 23, and the facial element-. simulating members 15 through 17 makes it quite clear that all of said elements are in a desired type of coupled relationship whereby 'to bring about a desired type of correlated movement of each of said facial element-simulating members such as to cause a desired type of change of facial expression as a result of movement of the manually graspable operating member 25. It should also be noted that, if desired, the manually graspable operating member 25 may also be twisted in either a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise directiori, either without any vertical movement thereof or ac' companied by vertical movement thereof, thus producing anon-symmetrical change-of position of the facial elementfsimulating members 15 through 17 on either the left or right side of the face-simulating member 12.

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, allportionsof the operating means 24, with the exception of the frontallypositioned manually graspable operatingm'einber 25, and. all portions of thecoupling means 23 are adapted to be effectively covered and enclosed within a rear cover means such as'is indicated generally at 39am which, in said exemplary. first form, is shown as being made of thin-sheet material similar to the thin-sheet material forming the face-simulating'member 12 and which is suitably aflixed to the rear surface 22 of said face-simulat ing member 12fby any. suitable means. In the example illustrated, said fastening is accomplished by way of fastening tabs 41 which are suitably cemented to the rear surface 22' of the face-simulating member 12. However, various other'fastening means may be employed in lieu there- It should'be noted that the lower portion of the rear covermeans 39 is provided with a pair of side cutouts 42 to allow the transverse member 37 of the operating means to be moved vertically when the frontally positioned operating member25 is moved for changing the expression of the entire device. However, in certain forms of the invention, said transverse member 37 may be made short enough to be completely enclosed within the enclosing rear cover means 39 and, in such cases, the, side cutouts 42 maybe eliminated if desired. It will be noted.

that the rear cover means 39 effectively defines a hollow chamber, such as is indicated at 43 in FIG. 3, whichcarries the operating means 24 and the coupling means 23 in an effectively sealed and protected manner therein.

In the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated, the device is provided with controllably foldable and collapsible stand means, such as is indicated generally at 44 as best shown in FIG. 2, which is adapted for use in supporting the entire device in a substantially upright manner on a horizontal supporting surface such as a table or the like.

In said exemplary first form of the invention, said controllably foldable and collapsible stand means 44 is formed of the same thin-sheet material as said face-simulating member 12 and effectively comprises a base platform member 4-5 integrally hinged, as indicated at 46, to the bottom edge of the face-simulating member 12 and having a supporting strut member 47 effectively hinged, as indicated at 48, adjacent to the rear edge of the supporting base platform member 45 and extending upwardly where a free tapered upper end portion 49 thereof is adapted to be inserted into and received by a transverse slot 51 carried by the rear of the cover means 39 whereby to provide a firm rigid support for the entire device in the manner best shown in FIG. 2 and yet to provide an arrangement wherein the collapsible stand 44 is complete- 1y foldahle and collapsible so that the entire device can be effectively collapsed into a relatively small volume configuration with virtually all of the elements in substantially parallel relationship. This facilitates the ready storage and portability of the device during initial shipment prior to initial sale and also subsequently during non-use periods when the device will normally be stored away until the next subsequent use thereof.

FIG. 6 illustrates a slight modification of the invention and, in View of the great similarity of this modification, similar parts are indicated by similar reference numerals, primed, however, and a detailed description of all portions which are substantially identical is not repeated since it would be redundant. The only description set forth at this point with respect to this modification is that relative to the portions which have changed slightly from the exemplary first form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. l5. In this connection it will be noted that the pictorial representation 14 defines a human face of a somewhat different appearance from that shown in the first exemplary form of the invention and, also, in this modification the movable facial element-simulating members is? do not comprise eyelash and/or eyelid-simulating members in the manner of the first exemplary form of the invention described above, but actually comprise eye-simulating members. Otherwise, this modification of the invention is substantially identical in structure and mode of operation to the exemplary first form illustrated in FIGS. 1-5.

It should be noted that the invention is not specifically limited to the particular number and/or kind of facial element-simulating members illustrated in the drawings and specifically described hereinbefore. Actually, a greater or lesser number of movable facial element-simulating members may be employed in certain forms of the invention and, also, in certain forms of the invention different types of facial elemen -simulating members may be employed than those referred to hereinbefore specifically. For example, the mouth and lip-simulating elements 1'7 may, in certain forms of the invention, be modified to include mustache-simulating elements, or additional and separate mustache-simulating elements may be included. Also, various other facial element-simulating members which when moved will effectively change the expression of the face-simulating member 12 may be employed and are within the broad scope of the invention.

While the preferred form of the apparatus of the present invention may be made of substantially rigid multiplefiber paper-like materials with the exception of the operating means 24 and coupling means 23, in order to provide a very inexpensive form of construction, the invention is not specifically so limited and may be made of thinsheet plastic materials or various other suitable materials. Also, in certain forms of the invention, the facesimulating member 12 need not be of flat configuration having a fiat front display surface 13, but may be of an effectively contoured or three-dimension-simulating appearance, if desired.

Also, it should be noted that, in certain forms of the invention where the device may be intended to be an eye-catching attention-getter for an advertising display or the like, the operating means 24 may be power-operated, either at regular repeating intervals or at controlled times, as determined by timing and/or control apparatus associated with power driving means effectively coupled with respect to the operating means 24. g

It should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A controllably changeable-expression face-simulating device, comprising: a face-simulating member simulating the frontal appearance of a face; a plurality of different spaced facial element-simulating members movably mounted in different vertically and horizontally spaced positions in front of a front surface of said facesimulating member corresponding in location to the location of similar real facial elements of a real face for mechanically coupled and correlated movement of each of said facial-element-simulating members in a facial expression-changing manner with respect to said facesimulating member; and operating means provided with coupling means effectively coupling said operating means with respect to all of said movably mounted facial element-simulating members for said mechanically coupled and correlated movement of each of said facial elementsim-ulating members in response to movement of said coupling means and said operating means, said operating means and coupling means being positioned behind the face-simulating member and being provided with a frontally positioned and projecting manually graspable operating member positioned in a conveniently manually accessible location; said facial element-simulating members comprising a pair of laterally spaced normally substantially laterally horizontally directed members provided with rearwardly directed pivot pins extending through the face-simulating member to the rear surface thereof and there being connected to corresponding portions of said coupling means for pivotal rotation around said pivot pins, said pair of laterally spaced members simulating in appearance portions of the eye region of a face.

2. A controllably changeable-expression face-simulating device, comprising: a face-simulating member simulating the frontal appearance of a face; a plurality of different spaced facial element-simulating members movably mounted in different vertically and horizontally spaced positions in front of a front surface of said facesimulating member corresponding in location to the location of similar real facial elements of a real face for mechanically coupled and correlated movement of each of said facial-element-simulating members in a facial expression-changing manner with respect to said face simulating member; and operating means provided with coupling means effectively coupling said operating means with respect to all of said movably mounted facial element-simulating members for said mechanically coupled and correlated movement of each of said facial elementsimulating members in response to movement of said coupling means and said operating means, said operating means and coupling means being positioned behind the 7. face-simulating member and beingprovided with a frontally positioned and projecting manually graspable-operat ing member positioned in a conveniently manually accessible location; said --facial element simulatin'g members comprising a pair of laterally adjacent normally substantially laterally horizontally directed members provided with rearwardly directed pivot pins extending through the face-simulating member to the 'rear surface thereof and there being connected =to corresponding portions of said conpl-in'g means for pivotal r'otation around'said pivot pins, said pair of laterally adjacent members simulating in appearance portions of the mouth region of a face. I

' '3. A controllably changeable-expression face-simulating device, comprising: a face-simulating member simulating the frontal a'ppearance of 'a face; a plurality of different spaced facialelement-simulating member-s movablymou'nted in diiferen-t vertically and horizontally spaced" positions in front of a f-ront surfaceof said facesi-mulatin'g member corresponding in location to the location of similar real facial elements ofareal face for mechanically coupled and correlatedmoverhent of each of said facial-element-simulating members in a facial expression-changing manner with respect to said face-si-m ulating member; and operating means proyided with coupling means effectively coupling said operating means with respect to all of said movably mounted facial element-simulating members for said mechanically coupled and correlated movement of each offsaid facial elementsimulating members in response to movement of 'said coupling means and said operating means, said operating means and coupling means being positioned behind the with rearwardly directed pivot pins extending through the -face-simulating member to the rear surface thereof and there being connected to corresponding portions of said coupling means for pivotal rotation around said pivot pins, said pair of laterally spaced members simulating in appearance portions of the eye region of a face, and wherein said facial element-simulating imembers comprise a pair of laterally adjacent normally substantially laterally horizontally directed members provided with reanwardly directed pivot pins extending through the face-simulating member to the rear surface thereof and-there beingtconnected to corresponding portions of said coupling means for pivotal rotation around said pivot pins, said pair of laterally adjacent members simulating in appearance portions of the mouth region of a face.

' References Cited tby the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD C. PINKH AM,'Rrima,ry Examiner. 

1. A CONTROLLABLY CHANGEABLE-EXPRESSION FACE-SIMULATING DEVICE, COMPRISING: A FACE-SIMULATING MEMBER SIMULATING THE FRONTAL APPEARANCE OF A FACE; A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT SPACED FACIAL ELEMENT-SIMULATING MEMBERS MOVABLY MOUNTED IN DIFFERENT VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY SPACED POSITIONS IN FRONT OF A FRONT SURFACE OF SAID FACESIMULATING MEMBER CORRESPONDING IN LOCATION TO THE LOCATION OF SIMILAR REAL FACIAL ELEMENTS OF A REAL FACE FOR MECHANICALLY COUPLED AND CORRELATED MOVEMENT OF EACH OF SAID FACIAL-ELEMENT-SIMULATING MEMBERS IN A FACIAL EXPRESSION-CHANGING MANNER WITH RESPECT TO SAID FACESIMULATING MEMBER; AND OPERATING MEANS PROVIDED WITH COUPLING MEANS EFFECTIVELY COUPLING SAID OPERATING MEANS WITH RESPECT TO ALL OF SAID MOVABLY MOUNTED FACIAL ELEMENT-SIMULATING MEMBERS FOR SAID MECHANICALLY COUPLED AND CORRELATED MOVEMENT OF EACH OF SAID FACIAL ELEMENTSIMULATING MEMBERS IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID COUPLING MEANS AND SAID OPERATING MEANS, SAID OPERATING MEANS AND COUPLING MEANS BEING POSITIONED BEHIND THE FACE-SIMULATING MEMBER AND BEING PROVIDED WITH A FRONTALLY POSITIONED AND PROJECTING MANUALLY GRASPABLE OPERATING MEMBER POSITIONED IN A CONVENIENTLY MANUALLY ACCESSIBLE LOCATION; SAID FACIAL ELEMENT-SIMULATING MEMBERS COMPRISING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED NORMALLY SUBSTANTIALLY LATERALLY HORIZONTALLY DIRECTED MEMBERS PROVIDED WITH REARWARDLY DIRECTED PIVOT PINS EXTENDING THROUGH THE FACE-SIMULATING MEMBER TO THE REAR SURFACE THEREOF AND THERE BEING CONNECTED TO CORRESPONDING PORTIONS OF SAID COUPLING MEANS FOR PIVOTAL ROTATION AROUND SAID PIVOT PINS, SAID PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED MEMBERS SIMULATING IN APPEARANCE PORTIONS OF THE EYE REGION OF A FACE. 